Air bag module including improved inflator retainer assembly

Abstract

An air bag module ( 20 ) including: an inflator ( 200 ) for providing inflation gas; a bracket assembly ( 100 ) having an integral spring portion for resiliently biasing the inflator toward a retained position.

1. An air bag module ( 20 ) comprising:
 an inflator ( 200 ) for providing inflation gas; 
 a retainer or bracket assembly ( 100 ) 
 having a central plate portion, a flexible first bracket end ( 120 ) oriented at a non-perpendicular angle relative to a plane of the central plate portion and a flexible, second bracket end ( 130 ) oriented at an initial first non-perpendicular predetermined angle relative to the plane of the central plate portion, and a portion of the second bracket end configured as a spring and being deformable by movement of the inflator into a retained position of the inflator, the inflator when in an installed position extending across and through the first and second bracket ends, with portions of the inflator located on opposing sides of each of the first and second bracket ends; and the second bracket end configured to create a twisting force upon that portion of the inflator extending through the second bracket end as a result of the second bracket end being deformed. 
 
     
     
       2. The module according to  claim 1  wherein the first bracket end ( 120 ) includes a first opening and wherein the second bracket end ( 130 ) includes a second opening and wherein that portion of the inflator insertable into the second opening is smaller than the second opening. 
     
     
       3. The module according to  claim 2  wherein the second bracket end is configured to engage the inflator near a top and a bottom of the second opening as the inflator is moved to the retained position and to be bent as the inflator is so positioned. 
     
     
       4. A method of assembling an air bag module according to  claim 1  comprising the steps of:
 a) inserting the inflator through the second bracket end of the bracket assembly; 
 b) rotating the inflator to a preferred position relative to the bracket assembly and while rotating the inflator, bending the second bracket end of the bracket assembly creating the twisting force on the inflator. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4  including the step of inserting the inflator into the first bracket end of the bracket assembly. 
     
     
       6. An air bag module ( 20 ) comprising:
 a cylindrically shaped inflator ( 200 ) for providing inflation gas to an air bag ( 300 ); 
 a bracket assembly ( 100 ) for receiving, holding and orienting the inflator comprising a first retaining bracket ( 120 ) having opposing sides and a first opening ( 122 ) configured to receive a complementary shaped portion of the inflator and an opposing second retaining bracket ( 130 ), the second retaining bracket having opposing sides, and the inflator configured to extend completely through both the first and the second retaining brackets with portions of the inflator positioned adjacent each opposing side of the first and second retaining brackets; and the second retaining bracket bent by the operation of the inflator, the second retaining bracket further configured to provide a twisting force upon the inflator in reaction to being bent, urging the inflator into portions of the first retaining bracket about the first opening, the second retaining bracket being the only retaining bracket providing a twisting force. 
 
     
     
       7. The module according to  claim 6  wherein the bracket assembly includes a center portion between the first and second retaining brackets, and wherein the second retaining bracket is initially oriented at a predetermined angle relative to the center portion and bent inwardly toward the center portion by operation of the inflator. 
     
     
       8. The module according to  claim 7  wherein the first retaining bracket is configured to bend outwardly from an initial configuration upon receipt of the inflator and upon receipt of the inflator in the first opening to return to the initial configuration. 
     
     
       9. The module according to  claim 7  wherein the second retaining bracket extends away from the center portion at an angle of about 85 degrees. 
     
     
       10. The module according to  claim 7  wherein the first retaining bracket extends away from the center portion at an angle of about 95 degrees. 
     
     
       11. The module according to  claim 6  wherein the second retaining bracket is configured to apply a twisting load to the inflator. 
     
     
       12. An air bag module comprising:
 a retainer or bracket assembly comprising a center portion and a first retainer end portion and a second retainer end portion, 
 each of the first and second retainer end portions disposed generally at opposing ends of the center portion and in general alignment with one another, 
 the first retainer end portion includes a first opening and the second retainer end portion includes a second opening, each of the first and second openings configured to receive and retain a respective first inflator end and an elongated body portion of an air bag inflator, the inflator crossing both the first and the second retainer end portions, the second retainer end portion further configured to be bent by the inflator as the inflator is twisted into a mounted position and the second retainer end portion generating a twisting bias retaining force on the inflator, the force directed opposite to the direction the second retainer end portion is bent, the force urging the first inflator end into a portion of the first retainer end portion. 
 
     
     
       13. The module according to  claim 12  wherein the second retainer end portion, prior to being bent, is generally planar in shape and extends away from the center portion of the bracket assembly along a predetermined obtuse angle. 
     
     
       14. The module according to  claim 13  wherein the inflator includes the elongated body portion having a cylindrical shape receivable into and through the second retainer end portion. 
     
     
       15. The module according to  claim 14  wherein the second opening is oblong in shape and includes a first diameter generally perpendicular to a second diameter, the first diameter being longer than the second diameter. 
     
     
       16. The module according to  claim 12  wherein the second opening of the second retainer end portion is configured to permit the inflator to be moved through the second opening and wherein the second retainer end portion is configured to act as a pivot to enable the inflator to move about the pivot and rotate within the second opening. 
     
     
       17. The module according to  claim 12  including a fastener secured to the first inflator end, located proximate an exterior surface of the first retainer end portion. 
     
     
       18. The module according to  claim 12  wherein the first retainer end portion is substantially perpendicular to the center portion. 
     
     
       19. The module according to  claim 18  wherein the first retainer end portion is oriented at an angle of about 95 degrees relative to the center portion. 
     
     
       20. The module according to  claim 12  wherein the second retainer end portion is configured to engage the inflator near a top and a bottom of the second opening as the inflator is moved to a retained position and to be bent as the inflator is so positioned. 
     
     
       21. An air bag module ( 20 ) comprising:
 an inflator ( 200 ) for providing inflation gas; the inflator having a first end, a second end and a body between the first and second ends; 
 a retainer or bracket assembly ( 100 )
 having a central plate portion, a flexible first bracket ( 120 ) having a first opening therein, a second bracket ( 130 ) oriented at an initial first non-perpendicular predetermined angle relative to the central plate portion, the second bracket having a second opening therein; 
 
 when the inflator is in a mounted configuration upon the retainer or bracket assembly, the first end extends outward from the first bracket, the second end extends away from the second bracket and wherein the body is in direct contact with the second bracket, wherein the second bracket is configured as a spring and deformable by movement of the inflator body to the mounted configuration and the second bracket configured to create a twisting force upon the body of the inflator tending to hold the body in the retainer or bracket assembly. 
 
     
     
       22. The air bag module according to  claim 21  wherein a portion of the second bracket, proximate a lower portion of the second opening, is configured as a hinge about which the inflator can rotate as the inflator is moved to the mounted configuration upon the bracket assembly. 
     
     
       23. The air bag module according to  claim 22  wherein when the inflator is in a mounted configuration within the bracket assembly, a portion of the inflator body apart from that portion proximate the hinge is in contact with an upper portion of the second bracket, wherein the upper portion of the flexible bracket generates at least a portion of the twisting force acting on the body. 
     
     
       24. The air bag module according to  claim 21  wherein the body has a length and the bracket assembly has a length, wherein the length of the body of the inflator is not restricted to be substantially the same value as the length of the bracket assembly.